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65 Years of Independence: Comparative Analysis of Chad’s Presidents
By Joe Le Mutant – Charilogone Editorial TeamIn 2025, Chad celebrates 65 years of independence, gained on August 11, 1960. This Sahelian country, rich in cultural diversity and natural resources, has endured a political history marked by instability, fratricidal wars, and frequently contested governance.
Seven presidents have led the nation, each leaving a distinct imprint on its trajectory. This comparative analysis highlights their strengths and weaknesses, with particular focus on the last four heads of state from the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti (BET) region, accused of plunging the country into economic and political chaos.
François Ngarta Tombalbaye, Chad’s first president, is considered the father of independence. He established the foundations of administration, economy, and military using only local human resources, relying on agriculture and livestock. He also resisted Libyan pressure by refusing to cede the Aouzou Strip. However, his authoritarian regime, marked by the creation of a single-party system and heavy taxation, triggered rebellion in the north, leading to the rise of the FROLINAT.
Félix Malloum, a former army chief of staff, overthrew Tombalbaye in 1975. He expelled the French army and attempted reconciliation with rebel factions, notably in Khartoum and Lagos. Despite his efforts, he failed to contain the rebellion and went into exile in Nigeria, where he died in anonymity twenty years later.
Lol Mahamat Choua, a politician from Kanem, briefly led the country in 1979. He maintained administrative functions during civil war, but his lack of military support and the fragmentation of Chad into eleven politico-military factions forced him to resign in 1980.
Goukouni Weddeye, backed by Libya’s Khadafi, established martial courts between 1980 and 1982, reducing violence and restoring relative security. However, his lack of higher education and political dependence on Khadafi led to a split within the FROLINAT. Rival Hissène Habré overthrew him, and Goukouni went into exile in Algeria until his return at the 1993 national conference. During his rule, Libya occupied the Aouzou Strip.
Hissène Habré, leader of the FROLINAT and a political science graduate, seized power in 1982. He restored state authority, reorganized administration, and legally reclaimed the Aouzou Strip. He rehabilitated Tombalbaye and revived the economy. Yet his rule was marked by brutal dictatorship: a single-party system, suppression of strikes, and over 40,000 deaths. He fled to Senegal with state wealth, including a C130 aircraft loaded with gold. Tried in Dakar, he died of COVID in 2020.
Idriss Déby Itno, an army officer and FROLINAT militant, overthrew Habré in 1990. He introduced multiparty politics and organized a sovereign national conference. Backed by France, he extracted oil from Doba with Esso, solidifying his power for three decades. However, he failed to develop the country, investing oil revenues in arms and proxy wars in Mali, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Sudan, and the DRC. He militarized the state, favored his hometown Amdjarass, and integrated Sudanese fighters into the Chadian army. He died in combat against the FACT in 2021, leaving behind a weakened economy.
Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, son of the late Maréchal, succeeded his father. A discreet soldier, he led the DGSSIE and was fighting the FACT when he learned of his father’s death. Supported by the clan-based army, he became transitional president and later head of the Fifth Republic. Favored by Emmanuel Macron, he was installed by France and elevated to the rank of Maréchal. However, his lack of political experience, violent repression of dissent, and clan-based governance have crippled the economy. He appoints his tribe to key economic positions and focuses on the welfare of his close relatives, neglecting national priorities.
Thus continues the Chad of the Débys, where hopes for democratic and economic renewal remain distant. Despite their resilience, Chadians face dark days ahead, still waiting for a leadership truly committed to the people.
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